Ofsted

Ofsted Reports

Following our most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2025, I am delighted to share that New Barn School has been rated as Good overall, with Outstanding ratings for both Behaviour and Attitudes, and Personal Development.

Please follow this link to our latest September 2025 OFSTED reportNew_Barn_School_143400_final.pdf

Quotes from the 2025 OFSTED report

What is it like to attend this school?

Many pupils who attend New Barn School have previously had negative experiences of coming to school. Some have been out of education for several years. Leaders and staff help pupils to re-engage in learning. The carefully managed induction process helps pupils to settle quickly. Pupils gain a sense of belonging and soon enjoy attending school regularly. They know they will be listened to, understood and helped by their trusted adults. Many pupils, as well as their parents and carers, recognise the positive difference this school has made to them. One parent represented the views of others, stating that the school has been ‘a life changer’.

A comprehensive enrichment programme ignites new interests in pupils. These include exploring nature in the school’s forest area and visiting the Science Museum in London. Pupils engage exceptionally well with what the school provides for them. They talk with pride about their personal achievements and hopes for their futures.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The provision for pupils’ personal development is exemplary. The school prioritises highly effective support for pupils’ mental health and well-being. Pupils benefit from a very well-developed personal development programme. They receive age-appropriate sex and relationships education. Pupils learn about equality and diversity, as well as keeping safe online. A strong array of extra-curricular clubs, such as music, languages and sport, provides pupils with additional development opportunities. Pupils are supported to have a strong and effective voice through the purposeful school council. Careers education is very well structured throughout the school, helping pupils to explore future pathways and further develop their ambition.

In lessons, teachers typically demonstrate strong subject knowledge, present new information clearly and ask pupils questions to check their understanding. This helps pupils to build their knowledge and skills over time. The school places increasing focus on identifying and addressing gaps in pupils’ learning. This is effective in the primary phase, as well as in some subjects in the secondary phase. This leads to strong outcomes for pupils in the subjects where gaps in learning are dealt with rapidly. However, in some other subjects the school could fill the gaps in pupils’ learning that they know about more quickly. For example, in reading, a few secondary pupils are not getting the support they need to learn to read while others are not developing their depth of comprehension quickly enough. This means that some pupils in some subject areas are not learning all that they could.

Material change inspection report November 2024